Early life[edit]

Park Shin-hye was born in Gwangju, but raised in Paju. Park made her debut through the music video "Flower" by the singer Lee Seung-hwan and stepped into the entertainment world. [2] Afterwards, she got a formal training in singing, dancing and acting.[3] She currently majors in Theater and Film at Chung-Ang University.

Career[edit]

Park's fame came when she played the younger version of the character Han Jung-suh in the popular Korean drama Stairway to Heaven. She also starred in a drama series called Tree of Heaven which aired on SBS, starring her former co-star in Stairway to Heaven, Lee Wan.[4] The show had decent ratings, and the reviews and criticism were mixed, but mostly positive. Many critics keyed in on her portrayal of the character Hana's pain of loving her step brother Yoon-suh (Lee Wan) as brilliantly done. She was also praised for speaking her lines in fluent Japanese despite the fact she does not speak the language herself. It should also be noted that due to the age difference between her and Wan, romantic scenes such as kissing on the lips could not occur, where had it been an older actress, such scenes may have occurred. Tree of Heaven started with borderline mediocre ratings, as do many new Korean dramas, but went on to finish very respectably, and gained a fan base in Korea, which further helped Park's credibility and young career in acting. The series was also aired in Japan giving Park more exposure abroad.[5][6] Since then, Park has done many commercials (CF) and modeled for a number of Asian companies.

Through her roles and their requirements, Park has displayed an instinctive talent for dancing and martial arts. She has also released a digital single, "Prayer", a song she sang in the drama Tree of Heaven. However, the track was not released in the official OST.

Park made her big screen debut in the movie Evil Twin, a summer horror flick where she had 2 roles: one as the main character, and the other as the ghost of the main character's sister, who haunts the other sister after her death. Park was extremely happy to act in this movie, because she had always wanted to act in a period setting drama or movie. In January 2007, Park starred as one of the four main characters in Goong S, a spin off (not the sequel) to the wildly successful Goong. The series did not match the success of its original, and received borderline ratings. However, the drama was the most re-watched and replayed series in the first half of 2007, gaining fame after the first run.

2009–2012[edit]

Park later gained more popularity through idol drama series You're Beautiful with Jang Geun Suk. The drama increased her popularity worldwide and she also sang the songs 'Lovely Day ' and 'Without Words' for the You're Beautiful original soundtrack. In 2010 she starred in the low-budget romantic comedy film Cyrano Agency which revolved around a dating agency that helps its customers win the hearts of the people they desire. The film was a sleeper hit becoming a critical and commercial success attracting 2.7 million admissions nationwide becoming the 8th best selling film of the year.[7] Her 2011 drama Heartstrings began airing on June 29, 2011. Jung Yong Hwa, a co-star from You're Beautiful, played the male lead opposite her.

In 2012, Park was featured in the first three episodes of the show Music and Lyrics with Yoon Gun (윤건) of Korean R&B duo Brown Eyes (브라운아이즈). Music and Lyrics is a reality/romance show that collaborates a top actress and an amazing songwriter to write a one-of-a-kind song in 30 days.[8] Their efforts produced the song "I Think of You" which has never been officially released.

Park joined the cast of the KBS drama special season 3, Don’t Worry, I’m a Ghost which was broadcast on July 15. She plays the ghost “Kim Yeon-hwa” who was murdered in a robbery. Yeon-hwa haunted Moon-Ki who was involved in a car accident and lost his memories.[9] Her portrayal of Yeon-hwa won her the "Best One-Act Special Actress" Award at the 2012 KBS Drama Awards.

On October 31, 2012, It was announced that Park would star in the third installment of tvN's "flower boy" series called Flower Boys Next Door, along with actor Yoon Shi Yoon.[10] The drama series aired from January 7 to the 25th of February 2013.

To celebrate her 10th anniversary as an actress, Park hold the '2013 Park Shin Hye Asia Tour: Kiss Of Angel' and tour to four country in Asia. Park is the first female Actress to tour Asia. She is the first actress to embark on such journey. She proved her potentials as she has impressed many viewers and fans with her eloquent speaking, singing, and dancing at various events [15]

Park starred in The Heirs opposite Lee Min-ho, premiering on October 9, 2013. The Heirs peeks until reached 25.6 percent as one of the top winners among the weekday dramas in 2013.[16] She contributed sang an OST named "Story" for the mega hit drama. In addition, The SBS drama The Heirs publication right sold to 13 countries abroad. The Heirs achieved the accomplishment of being sold to abroad with the highest price among the Korean dramas broadcast in 2013. Highest price sold to Japan.[17]The Heirs has an accumulated view of one billion views on Youku.com, a Chinese video watching website.[18]

Park is the first Korean female actress who has amassed more than five million Weibo followers, proving her popularity in China.[19] She was also recognized as "Popular Foreign Actress Award" at the Chinese Anhui TV Drama Awards for drama The Heirs.[20] She sang her Story OST from her drama Heirs at Anhui Tv Drama Awards.[21]

Park is set to play the role of the Queen in upcoming historical film, The Royal Tailor, with Go Soo, Han Suk-kyu, and Yoo Yeon-seok.[22]The Royal Tailor is going through a post-production process at the moment and scheduled to be released on January 2015. On September 4, 2014, Park confirmed to play the heroine of SBS’ new television series Pinocchio. Park won the final confirmation from the broadcaster to play Choi In-ha, the heroine, of the romantic drama alongside actor Lee Jong-suk. The drama portrays the passionate pursuit of justice by young news reporters on the social affairs desk. According to the scenario, Choi has a chronic symptom called “Pinocchio complex,” breaking into violent hiccups when she tells lies. The Wednesday-Thursday drama will air the first episode on November.[23]

Charity works[edit]

In addition to the listed above, Park is actively engaged in charity works activities in low profile which are not published on media:

Charity in Nepal[edit]

In 2009, Park visited the small village Tepatali in Nepal to share her Christmas love with ones in need. She loaded herself with stationary goodies like pencils and notebooks, items to improve education, as gifts for the Nepalese kids. Park even paid a personal visit to a specific family that was being raised by a 12-year-old boy, and managed to hand-build a windbreak on the spot. The female star continued her heartwarming labor by dressing up in a Santa Claus costume to decorate the kids' very first Christmas tree together. She even visited a quarry to help out the children who worked day and night to shatter the boulders with hammers as their only source of money.[72]

Charity in Ghana[edit]

On September 2011, As Ambassadors of Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI) Park went to Ghana. She met orphan child called Abanne. She sponsors and takes care of Abanne as her child.[73] Park also established Shinhye's Centre in Ghana included Library and Audio Visual Hall.

Participation in fundraising events[edit]

On February 2011, Park participated in Lee Seung-hwan’s charity showcase called “Live with a Kind Heart Season 2” at AX-Korea stadium. The showcase aims at raising funds for the Children's Leukemia Foundation, as well as for various causes such as international aid for fair trade.

On 21 August 2012 , the You're Beautiful actors Park along with Jung Yong-hwa and Lee Hong-ki participated in the 'Hopes, Dreams, Happy Trip to Korea' fund raising event hosted by non-profit organization 'Good Friends Save Children' (GFSC) at 5pm in Insadong, Jongno-gu Seoul to encourage young victims affected by the Japanese Tohoku earthquake in March last year.

Park have joined the cause to help families of victims from the Sewol ferry tragedy.On April 23, 2014, a representative from Korea Disaster Relief Association Hope Bridge revealed that Park donated to support Sewol ferry relief efforts and families of the victims. It seemed like she didn’t want many people to know because she donated without letting her agency know.[74]

Charity events on birthday[edit]

On her 21st birthday on 18 February 2011, Park took part in a volunteer project which gave out rice and food to the needy with her mother. As it was winter in Seoul at the time and the average daily temperature was below 10 degree Celsius that month. So the volunteer group decided to hand out hot food to the needy on this cold winter day. As well, On her 20th birthday on 18 February 2010, Park and her mother also did volunteer work. When fan meeting, called "Angel's Birthday", is scheduled to be held on 24 February 2012 as the date is close to Park's 22nd birthday date, She also donated part of the proceeds of this concert to the charity. Recently, Park had fan meeting on her 24th birthday and the profit from the event was donated to the charity.

During and after project[edit]

On November 2010, Park teamed up with Etude House Taiwan for Charity to raise funds for the Red Heart Association Taiwan. After drama Flower Boys Next Door, Park was spotted distributing food to the needy at a traveling soup kitchen held by Babffor Organization in Seoul Dongdaemoon.[75] During The Heirs, Park take care staff with her generosity[76][77] and after the drama end , Park and Lee Min-ho attended a charity bazaar as soon as they finished filming the final episode of the drama and donated their items.[78]

Donation through fan meeting[edit]

On July 16, Held at the Tokyo International Forum Hall A, Park and Jung Yong-hwa successfully completed the Japanese fan meet for their drama, ‘Heartstrings‘. The fan meeting gathered a whopping 10,000 fans, and portion of the profits made from the fan meet was donated to charity.[79]

During Park Shin Hye Asia Tour: Kiss of Angel in Thailand, Aside from meeting local press and fans, Park donated some of her personal belongings to a charity auction, with proceeds going to underprivileged patients at the National Cancer Institute.[80]